It’s Monday, and another week of NWSL action is in the books, which means it’s time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.
Our rankings are derived from a combination of key season statistics (points per game, goal differential, expected goal differential), recent performance, the Opta computer ratings and the observations of our writers.
Who’s climbing the table? Who’s in free fall? Our writers and statistical models have ranked all 14 clubs in the league after Matchday 26. Let’s dive in.
Previous ranking: 1
Next match: Saturday vs. North Carolina Courage, noon ET
The Current didn’t have Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga over the weekend, but that didn’t slow them down at all and they rolled to a 3-1 win in Chicago. Nichelle Prince and Michelle Cooper kept the KC attack humming as they set a new NWSL single-season record with 54 goals. There’s been a lot of talk lately about the changes they made to improve the defense, and that’s what’s made them the well-rounded team that is the favorite to win the NWSL Championship, but the Red Stars were reminded the hard way that this is still an offense-first team.
Previous ranking: 3
Next match: Sunday vs. Bay FC, 12:30 p.m. ET (stream live on ABC and WatchESPN)
The schedule makers did not make it easy on Washington in the season’s final week, sending them to play a Courage team that hadn’t lost at home all season with the second seed on the line, but the Spirit were completely unfazed. Ashley Hatch‘s goal proved to be the difference in a 1-0 victory, as she continued to come up big for a team that has been plagued by the injury bug. Hal Hershfelt also came up huge, putting in another good 90 minutes three days after going the distance in her first start for the U.S. women’s national team.
Previous ranking: 2
Next match: Friday vs. Chicago Red Stars, 8 p.m. ET
The Pride got back on the smiling side of the scoreboard thanks to a brilliant performance by the ageless Marta in a 3-2 win over Seattle, but it was still a bit scruffy for the Shield winners. The international break could not have come at a better time for Orlando, who really need to reset before the playoffs get going if they are going to hang with the other three top seeds.
Previous ranking: 4
Next match: Sunday vs. Portland Thorns, 3 p.m. ET (stream live on ABC and WatchESPN)
The whole season has been an exhibition in Gotham’s depth so it was only fitting that a new player took centerstage in the finale. Mandy Freeman was unreal, with a goal, assist and all-around dominant outing on the left flank as Gotham dispatched Utah, 4-1. Toss in a brace from Esther González and the defending champions are heading into the postseason on a high, and with the third seed in hand.
Previous ranking: 5
Next match: Saturday at Kansas City Current, noon ET
If you had concerns that the Courage didn’t have the attacking punch to hang in the playoffs, the way they closed the season didn’t do much to make you feel any better. North Carolina followed up last week’s shut out with another, losing 1-0 to the Spirit. They struggled to progress the ball and managed just five shots. Maybe they were a little unfocused against Washington because they had nothing to play for, being locked into the fifth seed, but the lack of juice in the final third is hardly new.
Previous ranking: 6
Next match: Sunday at NJ/NY Gotham FC, 3 p.m. ET (stream live on ABC and WatchESPN)
Christine Sinclair‘s last regular-season game, and likely last match in Portland, went off without a hitch. The Thorns dispatched Angel City, 3-0, with the Canadian icon celebrating by finding the back of the net, alongside Sophia Smith and Morgan Weaver. It was Sinclair’s night, but it was also nice to see the club’s future join her on the scoresheet. Now the question is whether the Thorns can win a playoff game or two and extend Sinclair’s career just a little bit longer.
Previous ranking: 7
Next match: Sunday at Washington Spirit, 12:30 p.m. ET (stream live on ABC and WatchESPN)
Bay took down the Dash, 3-2, to finish off a phenomenal second half of the season that saw them become just the second expansion team in league history to make the playoffs. They were fabulous on the ball and could have easily scored five or six if not for the heroics of Heather Hinz in goal, but Racheal Kundananji‘s brace ensured Bay would have enough to book their ticket to the postseason. Plus, the Zambian also had one most audacious plays you will ever see:
Racheal Kundananji’s got the movesss pic.twitter.com/3ASOkCKb91
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) November 3, 2024
Previous ranking: 10
Next match: Friday at Orlando Pride, 8 p.m. ET
It’s one thing to get torn apart by Kansas City, as many teams have this season, but it’s especially rough when you come out to defend and then find yourself down three goals within 33 minutes. That’s what happened to the Red Stars, who suffered their third loss in as many matches, all to teams in the league’s top four. On one hand, it was impressive that Chicago brought along some young players and made the playoffs this season, but the run-in highlighted the gap between them and the best teams in the league.
Previous ranking: 8
Next match: N/A
Utah looked a lot better down the stretch, but they’re heading into the offseason on a low after getting rolled over by Gotham, 4-1. It was a tough break for Mandy Haught, who came back from a clean sheet in her first USWNT cap to get peppered all night in a tough end to the Royals’ season.
Previous ranking: 9
Next match: N/A
Racing entered the weekend with their playoff hopes still alive, but by the time they took the pitch on Sunday afternoon, they had been eliminated from postseason contention. Their first-ever playoff berth will have to wait and Louisville played like a team whose dreams had just been crushed as San Diego walked past them, 3-1.
Editor’s Picks
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Previous ranking: 11
Next match: N/A
ACFC had nothing to play for in their regular-season finale and they played like it in a 3-0 loss to Portland. They had one foot already in the offseason, and what an important offseason it will be in Los Angeles. Their president and general manager are serving suspensions from NWSL through the rest of the calendar year, Becki Tweed’s future is in doubt and the roster needs a serious overhaul. It’s time for new ownership to get to work.
Previous ranking: 13
Next match: N/A
Jaedyn Shaw‘s goal was an accident; she hit a cross that nobody got to and bent inside the back post for a goal. María Sánchez‘s was no accident. It was simply a gorgeous, curling free kick that clipped the inside of the post to clinch a 3-1 win over Racing in a match that was technically a home game, but played in Louisville because Snapdragon Stadium’s pitch was deemed unsafe to play. It made for an appropriately bizarre end to a bizarre season in San Diego.
Previous ranking: 12
Next match: N/A
The Reign’s disappointing season came to an end with a 3-2 loss in Orlando. It was a fitting end for Seattle, as they showed some moments worthy of excitement and even scored two goals, but even on the rare occasion their attack got going, their defense fell apart. The hope is that the new ownership can chart a new path this winter for a team in need of just that.
Previous ranking: 14
Next match: N/A
Giving up three goals in a match your goalkeeper was your best player? That’s the 2024 Houston Dash for you. They closed their no good, very bad, terrible season with a loss to Bay FC despite Heather Hinz‘s standout performance.
